Episode 15
618 Words
The Truth Between Us
The rain finally stopped.
Kyle drove Jade home in silence.
Neither of them spoke.
The memories from the restaurant kept replaying in their minds.
"Have we met before?"
Jade's question echoed in Kyle's heart.
He wanted to answer.
But he wasn't sure himself.
---
The next morning...
Kyle arrived at Larson Automotive earlier than usual.
Instead of heading to his office, he walked straight to the storage room where old family belongings were kept.
Verona found him searching through dusty boxes.
"What are you looking for?"
"My past."
Verona's expression softened.
She knew exactly what he meant.
After several minutes, Kyle found an old photo album.
He slowly flipped through the pages.
Pictures of his parents.
Birthday celebrations.
School events.
Then...
A photograph slipped onto the floor.
Kyle picked it up.
It was an old picture taken at a children's charity event years ago.
In the background stood a little girl wearing a white dress.
Although her face was blurry, one thing stood out...
A colorful woven bracelet on her wrist.
Kyle's heart pounded.
"This..."
Verona looked over his shoulder.
"Is that...?"
Kyle nodded slowly.
"I think I'm getting closer."
---
Meanwhile...
Jade visited City General Hospital.
She sat beside Jenny Jordan, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her mother's face.
"I've been remembering strange things lately, Mom."
"Little pieces of my childhood."
"I don't know why."
She smiled sadly.
"I wish you were here to help me remember."
As she stood to leave, an elderly nurse approached her.
"Miss Jordan?"
"Yes?"
"I've worked here for many years."
"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation."
The nurse hesitated before continuing.
"When you were little..."
"You used to visit this hospital often with your grandmother."
Jade frowned.
"My grandmother?"
"Yes."
"Granny Jass always brought you here to donate toys to children."
A sudden flash crossed Jade's mind.
Children laughing.
Hospital corridors.
A frightened little boy sitting alone.
Jade placed a hand on her forehead.
"My head..."
The memory vanished once again.
---
Later that afternoon...
The project team gathered for another meeting.
As Jade entered the conference room, she accidentally bumped into Kyle.
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright."
For the first time...
Neither of them argued.
They simply smiled.
Diana nearly dropped her notebook.
"Did... they just apologize to each other?"
Verona chuckled.
"I've been waiting for this day."
---
After the meeting...
Kyle stopped Jade before she reached the elevator.
"Can we talk?"
She looked surprised.
"About work?"
"No."
"About us."
Jade blinked.
"There is no 'us,' Mr. Larson."
"I know."
"But I need to ask you something."
She nodded.
"What is it?"
Kyle reached into his jacket pocket and carefully pulled out the faded woven bracelet he had treasured for years.
Jade stared at it.
Her eyes widened.
She took a slow step forward.
"I know this bracelet..."
Her voice trembled.
"My grandmother..."
"...she made bracelets exactly like this."
Kyle's heart skipped a beat.
"You've seen one before?"
Jade closed her eyes.
A memory finally became clear.
A rainy afternoon.
A crying little boy.
A small bracelet tied around his wrist.
"Whenever you're scared... this bracelet will protect you."
Jade gasped.
She looked at Kyle in disbelief.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
Tears filled Kyle's eyes for the first time in years.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"You were the little girl..."
"...weren't you?"
Silence.
Jade slowly nodded.
"I think..."
"...I was."
Before either of them could say another word...
A loud explosion echoed from the underground parking garage.
Boom!
The entire building shook violently.
Employees screamed as smoke filled the lower floors.
Kyle instinctively grabbed Jade's hand.
"Stay behind me!"
Someone...
Had just declared war.
End of Episode 15
To be continued................
- Writer
